The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-06-28
HARVARD DEFEATS COLUMBIA.
A Great Eight Dared Race Between
the Crews.

New LONDON, Conn, June 27.-The an
nual four mile straightaway race between
eight Dared crews representing. Harvard Uni
yersity and Columbia College, was rowed
this afternoon on the Thames river course
from Gales Ferry to Winthrop Point 1t
proved sone Of the most hotly contested
races ever rowed. Both crews breaking the
record Of 20 minutes and 80 seconds made by
Yale in 1884. The official time was, Har-
ward 30 minutes 20 seconds; Columbia 20
minutes 90 seconds. Not over 800 college
men, including Harvard, Columbia and Yale
delegations witnessed the race. The local
people swelled the number Of spectators to
about 1900 distributed on an observation
sion boats. All conditions were favorable
for fast time. Harvard had the west and
Columbia the the east course. The start was
made about $50 o'clock. Both crews went
away on spurt Of IS strokes to the minute,
Harvard catching the water first, and
gaining a slight advantage, both crews
splashiug badly. The crews dropped the
pace two strokes and settled down to hard
work. Harvard's long, sweeping stroke and
the precision with which they swung their
bodies sent them to the front, and mt the
first quarter had lead Of length. Column
bia here began doing better work and began
to gain on the leaders inch by inch. The
excitement was tremendous. Columbia con-
tinued to gain. As the shells shot by the
half mile flag they were bow and bow This
fine exhibition by Columbia greatly sur
prised the Harvard crew and they showed
temporary decentralization by splashing and
irregular body movement. Columbia took
advantage Of the opportunity by drawing
away from Harvard, showing about q foot OF
clear water between the boats.
Harvard uuicklV recovered and Inv
sweeping stroke Of 81 rapidly ran up along
side of the New Workers, and by great ex-
ertion sent the bow OF the boat a few feet TO
the front just as they passed the first mile
flag The rowing up TO this point was sOme
thing phenomenal, the second half being
rowed iu minis. 101 secs. and 2 Minis. III
secs. respectively. Both crews were 10 see
onds ahead Of the record. Harvard's lead
was only three feet and it was anybody's
race. The enthusiasm here was at the
height, every Harvard and Columbia man
shouting for all they were worth The ter
rible strain had its effect ON the COlumbias
and they dropped their stroke to SO, while
Harvard, still pulling "a, forged ahead, and
at one ard one-qqarter miles nearly showed
clear water. Harvard kept up q steady
swing, while the Columbia crews work was
ragged, and to her misfortune her coxswain
swerved from the course and made a long
sweep inshore, thereby losing nearly
length.
At the two-mile flag Harvard had Increased
her lead to two lengths. Opposite the navy
yard Harvard was three lengths ahead,
swinging merrily along, with the race we'll
in hand, At this point, the Columbias seemed
to get their second wind, and put in such ef-
fective work that in the next half mile she
had overcome one length of her opponents
lead. During the third mile Harvard took
matters easily. Columbia attempted to close
the gap, but could do nothing more than hold
her own.
On entering the last half mile Columbia
made a final effort. but to do her best she
could gain but few feet, and Immediately
lost it. All through the half mile Harvard
easily maintained a lead Of three lengths in
spite of Columbia's gallant efforts. Har-
ward crossed the line winner by three